Condenser



Oct. 20, 1931. J sMlTH 1,827,827

CONDENSER Filed 001:. 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l I H HI INVENTOR JohnH.5mith WITNESS 2 5 @J QJM ATTORN EY Oct. 20, 1931. J. H. SMITHCONDENSER Filed Opt. 4. 1929 Fig.3.

WITNESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR John H-Smith ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 20,- 1931 if UNITED STATES PATENT Fries JOHN H. SMITH, OF LANSDOWNE,PENNSYLVANIA, ,ASSIGNOR T WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- TRIO & MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, A CORPORATION'OF PENNSYLVANIA CONDENSER Application filedOctober 4, 1929. Serial No.'397,339.

My invention relates to apparatus for condensing gaseous media andparticularly to apparatus of the surface type intended primarily forcondensing steam and it has for 1mm object to provide apparatus of thecharacter designated which shall be so constructed and arranged as toeffectively utilize the en.- tire cooling surface of the apparatus inorder that it may operate at a very'high heat transfer rate.

It has for a further object to provide a I condenser of the surface typeand of relatively large capacity which shall be provided withintermediate tube-supporting sheets so arranged as to permit anunrestricted circulation of the gaseous media within the condenser shelllongitudinally of the tube nest as induced by the difference in heatheads obtaining between the cooling water inlet or cold portion of thecondenser and the cooling water outlet or relatively warm portion of thecondenser.

It has for still another object to provide a condenser of large capacitywhich shall be so arranged as to provide for the circulation of steamand non-condensable gaseous media longitudinally of the condenser fromthe warm portion of the cooling tube nest toward the cold portionthereof in order that proper distribution of the steam may be obtainedand maximum oooling'of the noncondensable' gaseous media efiected.

It has for still anotherobject'to provide a condenser of the foregoingcharacter wherein the longitudinal movement of the steam andnon-condensable gaseous media from the relatively warm portion of thecondenser toward the relatively cold portion thereof shall assume a pathor route so arranged as to insure ample transfer of heat to the tubenest in order that the longitudinally moving steam may be condensed andin order that the longitudinally moving non-condensable gaseous mediamay be cooled.

o0 condenser and the liquid condensate from the It has for a furtherobject to provide awarm end of the condenser, whereby the gases aredischarged at a relatively low temperature and the liquid condensate ata relatively high temperature. I c

It has for still another object to provide a condenser ofthe foregoingcharacter which shall be of the single-pass type in that the Water flowsthrough the tube nest in a single direction; of the radial flow type inthat the steam enters the tube nest from the greater portion of itsperiphery and the air and noncondensable gases are withdrawn, laterally,from an interior portion of the tube nest; and of the divided water boxtype in that one longitudinal section of the condenser may be operatedwhile the other half is rendered inactive for cleanin purposes.

These and other 0 jects are effected by my invention as will be seenfrom the following description and claims taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings. forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View, in longitudinal sectional elevation, of one form ofcondenser constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sectional views taken on the lines IL-IlandIIIIII of Fig. 1, respectively;

Fig. 4 is a view, in elevation, of the inlet water box;

Fig. 5 is a view, in elevation, ofthe outlet Water box; and

Fig. 6 is a view, in section, of the condenser hot well structure and istaken "on the line VIVI of Fig; 1.

' In the operation of single pass condensers, that is, condensers inwhich the cooling water passes longitudinally through the tube nest inone direction only, it has been established for many years that thecooling water, in its passage through the'tube nest,assumesprogressively increasing temperatures in a direction from theinlet water box towards the discharge water box. In other words, theinletend of the condenser may be termed the cold end and the outlet endof the condenser the warm end and, consequently, each footof coolingtube surface near the cold end has a relatively greater capacity forcondensing. steam than each foot of tube surface near the warm end. Thecold end of the condensernaturally has a higher heat head than the warmend and there is therefore an inherent tendency forthe gaseous media inthe condenser shell to ,move or circulate in a direction from the warmend or region of relatively low heat head toward the coldend or regionof relatively high heat head. t

In condensers of large capacities which are necessarily quite long, somemeans must be provided for supporting the tube nest intermediate of itsends and it has been the practice for many years to provide longitudinally spaced intermediate supporting sheets. which intermediatesupporting sheets 1 prevent objectionable sagging or vibration of thecondenser tubes. However, such inter mediatetube-supporting sheets mayseriously interfere with the free and natural longitudinal circulationof the gases in the condenser shell from the warm end or region ofrelatively'low heat head to the cold end or region of relatively highheat head. It

has been proposed to utilize the intermediate tube-supporting sheets tocompletely sectionalize the condenser and thus entirely destroyorprevent the aforesaid natural tendencyv for the gases to circulatelongitudinally from the warm toward the cold end. In contradis tinctionto the foregoing, .I have conceived of a condenser which allows of suchdistribution of gases and transfer of heat as will not tween therespective-condenser sections, as

defined by the longitudinally-spaced tubesupporting sheets, as willallow the gases to assume their natural tendency to flow from the warmtoward the cold end. Furthermore, my condenser structure is so arrangedthat the gases, in assuming this general direction of circulation,traverse a substantial portion of the tube nest surface, whereby theircondensable components are condensed and the non-condensable componentsare effectively cooled. Furthermore, the non-condensable gases arepreferably withdrawn from the cold end of the condenser or terminus ofthe natural circulation heretofore referred to and, hence thenon-condensable gases are removed from the condenser at the lowestpossible temperature.

. My invention recogn zes the existence of pressure drop' in thecondenser, first, as a thermal necessity and, secondly, as a function ofthe physical dimensions, likewise, it recog nizes no attempt to alter orcontrol steam flow and therefore natural pressure drop by any meanswhatsoever except by the influence of natural causes resulting fromphysical limitations set up suchas by the pitch of the cooling tubes,the distance of gas travel, the

mas-er,

amount of steam space, etc. My invention, does, however, utilize theexisting and natural pressure drop, irrespective of its magnitude,

to effectively cool non-condensable gases in a portion of the condenserset aside primarily for that purpose and built integraltherewith. Thisportion of the condenser is commonly known as the air and gas coolingsection and my invention takes advantage of the pressure drop naturallyresulting in the condenser to utilize normally dormant portions of thetube nest for condensing and cooling purposes.

Referring now to the drawing, I show in Fig. 1, a condenser having ashell structure 10 provided with an inlet 11 for steam to be condensedand an outlet 12' for the liquid or condensed media. Secured to each endof the shell structure 10 is a tubesheet 13 and, ex-

tending longitudinally I, through. the. shell.

structure between the tube sheets 13, is a nest of cooling tubes 14.Preferably, the tube nest 14 is so formed, in relation to the innercontour of the shell structure 10, as to define an intervening steamdelivery space 15 entirely surrounding, or surrounding the greaterorti'on of, the tube nest 14.

ecured to one ofthe tube sheets 13 is an inlet water box 16 of thedivided or sectional type provided with inlet connections 17 for therespective sections while, secured to the other tube sheet 13 is anoutlet water box 18 of the divided or sectional type "provided withcirculating water outlets- 19. In the present embodiment, the condenseris of the singlepass type and hence the water boxes 16 and 18 are soconstructed and arranged that the cooling water passes longitudinallythrough the tubes of the nest 14 in a single direction, Such a condenseris generally referred to as a condenser of the single-pass type.

As stated heretofore, in condensers of the larger capacities, it isessential that some means be provided for supporting the tubes of thenest at points located intermediate of the end tube sheets 13 and,hence, in the present embodiment, I show a plurality of substantiallyequally spaced tube-supporting sheets 21 and 22 extending transverselyof the shell structure and havlng an outer contour generally similar tothe outer contour of the nest 14. Preferably, the intermediatetube-supporting'sheets 21 and 22 have their peripheral edges spaced fromthe side walls of the shell structure or from both the bottom wall asWell as the side walls of the shell structure in order that the entirelongitudinal length of the tube nest may freely communicate with thesteam delivery space 15.

The intermediate tube-supporting sheets 21 and 22 may be said to dividethe tube nest into a plurality of sections 23, 24 and 25, the section 23located adj acent the inlet water box 16 being referred to as a coldsection and the section 2'5 adjacent the outlet water box 18 as arelatively warm section. Extending longitudinally between adjacenttube-sup' porting sheets is a series of air off-take boxes 26.preferably disposed in lateral alignment with each other. Each of theboxes 26 is provided with right andleft inlets 27 located, 7

take boxes 26 is preferably provided with a centrally-disposed divisionplate 28, the inlets 27 being disposed on opposite sides of the divisionplate 28. Extending from the upper terminus of the central divisionplate 28 of each of-the air off-take boxes is a shroud 29 which, asillustrated, may be of some circular formation so as to enshroud aportion of the tube nest and form an air 'andnoncondensable gas coolingsection 31. The shroud 29 is preferably secured between adjacent tubesheets by end flanges secured to the latter.

As shown in Fig. 1, a hot well 33 is connected to the condensate outlet12 for the reception of condensed media. The condensate outlet 12 andthe hot well 33 are preferably located at the warm end of the condenserin the region of the section in order that the condensate removed fromthe condenser may have as high a temperature as possible. The

hot well 33 is provided with an upstanding flange 34, which flangecooperates with a depending flange 35 for providing a liquid seal 36 forpreventing the entrance of free gases into the hot well. The dependingflange 35 is preferably supported on the bottom of the air box 26located in the section 25 and communicates directly with the interiorof-the air box through an opening 37 whereby the hot well may be venteddirectly into the in- 'terior of the air box 26. The hot well 33 ispreferably so arranged that it is capable of deaerating the condensatecollected therein.

As stated heretofore, owing to the relatively higher heat headprevailing at the inlet end of the condenser than at the outlet end,there is a natural tendency for the gases to flow in a direction fromthe discharge or circulating water outlet end toward the inlet end ofthe condenser, and, hence, I provide in the iiitermediatetube-supporting sheet 22, an opening 38 of substantial flow-area,whereby not only may gases liberated from the hot well be permitted toenter the compartment 24, but steam and other gaseous media obtaining'inthe relatively warm section 25 and entering the air off-take box 26through the inlets 27 are also permitted to assume their naturaltendency and to flow into the next cooling section 24 through theopening 38, At this point, it is to be remembered that the gases presentin the section 25, before entering the air off-take box inlets 27, arecompelled to travel transversely across the tube nest, as indicated bythe arrow, so as to insure complete utilization of the condensingcapacity of the relatively warm section.

Located intermediate of the upper and lower walls of the air boxes is ahorizontallyextending division plate 39, the division plate 39 ofthe airbox located in section 25 preferably terminating at a point spaced fromthe intermediate tube-supporting sheet 22 so as to provide an opening 41in order that the gases entering the air box through the inlets 27 mayhave free and ready access to the compartment 24 through the opening 38.g

The gases entering the compartment 24 are received in laterally-disposedchambers 42 formed by the intermediate plate 39, the bottom and sidewalls of the air box and the vertically-extending wall 43. Each of thecompartments 42 is provided with laterally disposed outlets 44 soarranged that the gases entering the compartments 42 are again liberatedto the tube nest and traverse the cooling section 31 thereof until theyagain enter the inlets 27 of the air boxes located in the section 24. Itwill, therefore, be apparent that the gases, in their passage from thewarm end of the condenser toward the cold end, are so directed that theytraverse a substantial por tion of the tube nest, whereby not only istheir condcnsable component reduced to a liquid, but the non-condensablecomponent is effectively cooled. Furthermore, the intermediate section24 of the tube nest, because of its relatively greater cooling capacitythan the'section 25, is utilized to condense as much as possible of thesteam circulating toward the cold end of the condenser.

Provided-in the intermediate tube support sheet 21 are openings 45disposed on each side of the center line of the condenser in order thatthe gases present in the air off-take box in section 24 may freel enterthe section 23 Once in the latter section, the gases, like in thesection 24, are liberated from compart ments 46 through outlets 47 sothat they may flow laterally through the tube nest and again traversethe cooling section 37 thereof. In this way, the coldest section, thatis the section 23, is utilized to condense thesteam and to furtherreduce the temperature of the gases flowing from the warm end of thecondenser.

The air and non-condensable gases entering the interior of the air boxes26 of the section 23 are finally removed from the air boxes throughoutlet connections 48 communicating, respectively, with air off-takeconduits 49 and 51 located on opposite sides of the center line of thecondenser.

One of the important detail Structural features of my invention residesin the arrangement of the ofi'take conduits 4:9 and 51, WhlCh,

as shown, need not necessarily be mechanicaL ly connected to the airoff-take box 26. This advantage is obtained by associating with each ofthe outlets 4(8 a depending flange member 50 which terminates near thebottom of the shell structure below the level of condensate, indicatedat 52. As will be apparent, the level of the condensate-52 is maintainedin the bottom of the shell structure by the upstanding flange 34associated with the hot well. The latter flange maintains a level ofcondensate such as indicated and the flange 50 of the air off-takeextends below the level .of the liquid, thereby forming a liquid sealabout the edge of the air off-takes 49 and 51 and isolating them fromall communication with the interior of the shell structure except'theair and non-condensable gas outlets 48. This is a very 'desirablefeature of construction as it permits of the air and non-condensable gasoff-takes 49 and 51 being secured to the shell structure by the externalflanges 52", no internal con- -nections being necessary. Furthermore,this construction acts as a separator and prevents entramment ofcondensate 1n the a1r leaving the condenser. Each air off-take 49 and 51is preferably provided with a stop valve 53 in order that one of thelongitudinal sections of the condenser may be rendered inactive forcleaning purposes while the other sectionis still active, all as wellunderstood intheart.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my condenser will beapparent.- Steam to be condensed enters the shell structure through theinlet 11 and surrounds the entire tube nest in the steam delivery space15. The steam is drawn radially inwardin each of the sections from theperimeter of the tube nest toward the cooling section 31 and thencetowardinlets 27 of the air otttake boxes. In its passage across the tubenest, a considerableportion of the steam is condensed and falls to thelower portion of the shell structure from whence it drains through theout-let 12 to the hot well 33. The

7 air and non-condensable gases-enter the inlets 27 of the air off-takeboxes and pass toward the air outlets 49 and 51.

As stated heretofore, the section 23 of the condenser has a relativelygreater capacity per unit of length for condensing steam than the nextsection 24 and the latter, in turn has a relatively greater capacity-forcon- (lensing steam than the section 25. The heat head prevailing in thesection 23 is relatively greater than in the section 25 and hence thereis a natural tendency for the steam and other non-condensed gases in thesection 25 to flow in a direction toward the section 23. In accordancewith my improved was accommodate such movement. Not only are the steamand gases allowed to move freely toward the cold end of the condenser,but

their path of travel is so arranged that, in each successive compartmentthey are again subjected to the cooling action of a portion of the tubesin that section in orderthat the steam may be condensed and the gasescooled, and hence, each successive section is utilized as a condensingand cooling element to compensate for, what may be termed, thedeficiency in the preceding section. In this way, the entire coolingsurface from the warm to the cold end of the condenser is fully utilizedfor both condensing and cooling purposes and, although the necessaryintermediate tube-supporting sheetsare provided, they are so arrangedthat the natural tendency for the steam to flow from the region of lowheat head to theregion of high heat head is fully utilized in order thatthe entire tube surface may be rendered eflective.

Because of the fact that'the air and noncondensable gases are removed atthe cold end and the condensate at the warm end, cold air andwarmcondensate is assured; and, while I have shown a condenser of thesingle-pass type, it is to be understood that my invention is alsoapplicable to other than condensers of the. single-pass type in whichcase the air would be removed from that portion of the condenser inwhich the circulating water enters and the condensate would be removedfrom a warmer portion.

In the present embodiment, I show a condenser of the radial flow typeand hence the intermediate tube-supporting sheets 21 and 22 arepreferably spaced from the side and bottom walls of theshell structureso that 24 and 25 also freely communicate with each other through thesurrounding steam delivery space 15. Although, in the presentembodiment, I show a type of radial flow condenser wherein the steamdelivery. space 15 surrounds the entire periphery of the tube nest,nevertheless it is to be-understood that I may construct radial flowcondensers in accordance with my invention wherein the steam deliveryspace does not extend entirely or completely around the tube nest.Furthermore, it will be obvious that my invention, in its broaderaspects, is not confined to condensers of the radial flow type but thatit may be applied to various other types of condensers so as to p ovidefor the free and natural distribution of the steam and gaseous mediathroughout the longitudinal length of the tube nest.

.While I have shown my invention'in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the artthat it is not so limited, but is susceptible ofvarious changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limi tations shall beplaced thereupon as are im-' posed by the prior art or as arespecifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structurehaving an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet forcondensate; a tube nest extending longitudinally 1 through the shellstructure and having tube sheets located at each end thereof; an inletwater box located at one end of the tube nest and an outlet water boxlocated at the other end of the tube nest; said water boxes providingfor the circulation of cooling mediain a single direction longitudinallythrough the tube nest; a'tube-supporting sheet or sheets 7 locatedintermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing the tube nest intosections includinga relatively cold section disposed adjacent the inletwater box and a relatively warm section disposed adjacent the outletwater box; passageway means for the passage of gaseous media through/thetube nest sections in a direction from the warm section toward the coldsection and including inner portions of the tube nest sections, therespective sections of said passageway means having inlet and outletopenings separated bythe tubes thereof and conduits for conducting mediafrom the inlet opening of a preceding section to the outlet opening of asucceeding section, said outlet openings'being located in the coolingmedia exit ends of the respective sections; and an outlet for gaseousmedia communicating with the inlet opening of the cold end section.

2. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor gaseous media to be condensed and an outletfor condensate; a tubenest extending longitudinally through the shell structure and spacedfrom the interior thereof so as to define an intervening steam deliveryspace surrounding a substantial portion of the tube nest; an inlet waterbox associated with one end of the tube nest and an outlet water boxassociated with the other end of the tube nest, said water boxes beingarranged to provide for the circulation by the tubes thereof andconduits for conducting media from the inlet opening of a precedingsection to the outlet opening of a succeeding section said outletopenings being located in the cooling mediaexit ends of the respectivesections; an dan outlet for gaseous media communicating with the inletopening of'the cold end section. I

3; In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tubenest extending longitudinally through the shell structure and havingtube sheets located at each end thereof, an inlet water box associatedwith one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box associated withthe other end 'of the tube nest, said water boxes providing for thecirculation of cooling media in a single direction longitudinallythrough the tube nest, one or more tube support sheets locatedintermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing the tube nest into aplurality of sections including a'relatively warm section disposedadjacent the outlet water box and a relatively cold section disposedadjacent the inlet w'ater box, passageway means extending longitudinallythrough the shell structure for the passage of gaseous shell structurehaving an inlet for gaseous.

media to be condensed, and an outlet for condensate, a tube nestextending longitudinally through the shell structure having tube sheetslocated at each end thereof, an inlet water box associated with one endof the tube nest and an outlet water box associated with the other endof the tube nest, said water boxes providing for the circulation ofcooling mediain a single direction longitudinally through the tube nest,a plurality of tube-supporting sheets located intermediate of the endtube sheets and dividing the tube nest into a relatively warm sectiondisposed adjacent the out let Water box, a relatively cold sectiondisposed adjacent the inlet water box and an intermediate section,passageway means extending longitudinally through the shell structurefor the passage of gaseous media from the warm section of the tube nestto the cold section of the tube nest, said passageway means includingfirst, second and third inlets and first, second and third outlets, saidfirst, second and third inlets being located in the warm, intermediateand cold sections, re spectively, said first outlet communicating withthe intermediate section and said second outlet communicating with thecold section, said first and second outlets being spaced transversely ofthe tubes of the nest from the second and third inlets, respectively, sothat gaseous media flows across the tube of the nest fromthe outlets totheir associated inlets, and air and non-condensable gas oil-take meanscommunicating with the third outlet.

5. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nestextending longitudinally through the shell structure, said tube nestbeing spaced from the interior of the shell structure so as to define anintervening steam delivery space, surrounding a substantial portion ofthe tube nest, tube-supporting sheets located at each end of the tubenest, an inlet water box provided for one end of the tube nest and anoutlet waterbox for the other end of the tube'nest, said water boxesbeing so tube nest in a single, longitudinal direction, one or moretube-supporting sheets located intermediate of the end tube sheets anddividing the tube nest, longitudinally, into a plurality'of sections, agas box structure extending longitudinally through the shell structure,said gas box structure having inlets located in interior portions ofeach of the tube nest sections and outlets into the tube spaces locatedin each of the tube nest sections except the section adjacent the outletWater box,the outlets of the respective sections being disposed inspaced relation with respect to their inlets and in a direction towardthe periphery of the tube nest, partition means interposed between therespective inlets of the air box structure for compelling gaseous mediaentering the respective inlets to leave the gas box structure throughthe adjacent outlets, and means connectingwith the gas box structurenear the inlet water box end thereof for removing air andnon-condensable gases from the shell structure.

6. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nestextending longitudinally through the shell structure, said tube nestbeing spaced from the side walls of the shell structure so asto definean intervening steam delivery space surrounding a substantial portion ofthe tube nest, tube-supporting sheets located at each end of the tubenest, an inlet water box provided for one end of the tube nest and anoutlet water box for the other end of the tube nest, said water boxesbeing so arranged as-tto pass cooling fluid through the tube nest in asingle, longitudinal direction, one or more tube-supporting sheets 10-inset/s27 cated intermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing thetube nest, longitudinally, into a plurality of sections, a gas boxextendinglongitudinally between each adjacent pair of tube-supportingsheets, said intermediate tube-supporting sheets being provided withopenings affording free communication with the adjacent gas boxes, aninlet for gaseous media provided in each gas box, an outlet into thetube space for gaseous media provided in each gas box exceptthe gas boxdisposed in the tube nest section located adjacent the outlet water box,the outlets of the respective sections being disposed in spaced relationwith respect to their inlets, partition means associated with theoutlets of the respective. gas box sections for compelling the gaseousmedia entering through the openings provided in the intermediatetube-supporting sheets to leave the gas box and enter the tube nest,andmeans connecting with the gas box located in the section of the tubenest disposed adjacent the inlet water box for removing air andnon-condensable gases from the shell structure.

7. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nestextending longitudinally through the shell structure, tube-supportingsheets located at each end of the tube nest, an inlet Water box locatedat one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box located at the otherend of the tube nest, said water boxes being so arranged as to passcooling fluid through the tube nest in a single, longitudinal direction,one or more tube-supporting sheets located intermediate of the end tubesheets and dividing thetube nest, longitudinally, into a plurality ofsections, transversely aligned gas boxes extending longitudinallybetween adjacent tube sheets, said gas boxes having inlet openingslocated in interior portions of the respective tube sections, bafiiemeans projecting from. the gas boxes into the tube nest sections andtorming, in the vicinity of the inlet openings, a condensing and coolingsection extending longitudinally between the tube sheets and throughouta substantial portlon of the shell structure, said intermediatetube-supporting sheets being provided with openings for aflordingcommunication between adjacent gas-boxes and each of said gas boxes,except the gas box disposed in the tube nest section adjacent the outletwater box, having outlet openings spaced from their inlet openings andcommunicating with the condensing and cooling section, means embodied inthe respective gas boxes having outlet openings for directing thegaseous media received through the openings in the intermediatetube-supporting sheets outwardly through said openings and into thecondensing and cooling section of the tube nest, and means communicatingwith the gas box Sill located inthe tube nest section adj acent'theinlet Water box for removing air and noncondensable gases from the shellstructure.

8. In a condenser, the combination of a 7 shell structure having aninlet for steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a

tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, tubesheets and water boxes located at eaohend of the tube nest, means forconveying gaseous media in a tortuous manner longitudinally through theshell structure, said conveying means being so formed as to pass thegaseous media in approximately one vertical direction-Within theconveying means and in approximately the opposite vertical directionoutside of the conveying means and over portions of the tube nest, andmeans connecting with said conveying means for removing air andnoncondensable gases from the shell structure.

9. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nestextending longitudinally through the shell structure,tube-supportingsheets located at each end of the tube nest, an inlet Water box locatedat one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box located at the otherend of the tube nest, said Water boxes being so arranged as' to passcooling fluid through the tube nest in a single, longitudinaldireccondensable gases from the shell structure.

10. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor gaseous media, a tube nest extending longitudinally through theshell structure, tube-supporting sheets located at each end of tl tubenest, an inlet Water box located at one end of the tube nest and anoutlet WELlZGPbOX located at the other end of the tube nest, said Waterboxes being so arranged as to pass cooling fluid through the tube nestin a single, longitudinal direction, means for conveying gaseous medialongitudinally through the shell structure from the end adjacent theoutlet Water box toward the end adjacent the inlet Water box, meanscommunicating with said gaseous media conveying means near the inletWater box for removing air and non-condensable gases from the shellstructure, a hot Well for receiving condensate discharged from the shellstructure, and means for vent ing said hot Well into a portion of thegaseous media conveying means located near the outlet water box end ofthe shell structure.

'11. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having aninlet for gaseous media, a tube nest extending longitudinally throughthe shell structure, tube-supporting sheets located at each end of thetube nest, an inlet Water box located at one end of the tube nest and anoutlet Water box located at the other end of the tube nest, said Waterboxes being so arranged as to pass cooling fluid through the tube nestin a single, longitudinal direction, one or more tube-support ingsheetslocated intermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing the tubenest, longitudinally, into a plurality of sections, means for conveyinggaseous media longitudinally through the tube nest sections in adirection from the outlet Water box toward the inlet .Water box, meanscommimicating With said gaseous media conveying means near the inletWater box end of the shell structure for removing air andnon-condensable gases from the shell structure, and a hot Wellcommunicating with the shell struc ture near the outlet Water box endthereof for removing condensate from the shell structure.

12. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor gaseous media, a tube nest extending longitudinally through theshell structure, tubr-i-supporting sheets located at each end of thetube nest, an inlet Water box located at one end of the tube nest and anoutlet Water box located at the other end of the tube nest, said Waterboxes being so arranged as topass cooling fluid through the tube nest ina single, longitudinal direction, one or more tube-supporting sheetslocated intermediate of the end tube sheets and dividing the tube nest,

longitudinally, into a plurality of sections, means communicating with.the section dis posed adjacent the inlet Water box for removing air andnon-condensable gases'from the shell structure, and a hot Wellcommunicating With the shell structure in the vicinity of 'the tube nestsection disposed adjacent the outlet Water box for removing condensatefrom the shell structure.

13. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor gaseous media, a tube nest extending longitudinally through theshell structure, tube sheets and 1 Water boxes located at each end ofthe tube nest, air and non condensable gas removal means disposed Withinthe shell structure and provided with an outlet located Withinthe shellstructure, an air and non-condensable gas off-take conduit projectinginto the shell structure and having an inlet spaced from the air andnon-condeusable gas outlet, and liquid sealing means associated withsaid conduit for confining communication thereofto the air andnon-condensable outlet.

14. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor gaseous media, a tube nest extending longitudinally through-theshell structure, tube sheets and water boxes located at each end of thetube nest, air and non-condensable gas ofii-take means having an outletlocated within the she'll structure, means for maintaining a body ofcondensate in the lower portion of the shell structure, said air andnon-eondensable air outlet being disposed above the level of themndensate in the shell structure, bafie means surrounding said'outletand depending into the body of condensate in the shell structure, and anair and non-condensable air off-take conduit projecting into the shellstructure and extending above the level of the water therein, saidconduit having an inlet opening located within the bafile structure andcommunicating with the outlet of said air and non-condensablegasoil-take means.

15. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor gaseous media, a tube nest extending longitudinally through theshell structure, tube sheets and water boxes located at each end of thetube nest, air and non-condensable gas off-take means having an outletlocated'within the shell structure, means for maintaining a body ofcondensate in the lower portion of the shell structure, said air andnon-condensable air outlet being disposed above the level of thecondensate in the shell structure, baffle means surrounding said outletand depending into the body of condensate in the shell structure, and anair and non-condensable gas ofi-take conduit insertable into the shellstructure from the exterior thereof and projecting above the level ofthe condensate in the shell structure, said conduit having an inletopening disposed within the bafile structure and infree communicationwith said air and noncondensable outlet and disposed in spaced relationthereto.

, In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23d dayof September,

JOHN -H. STH.

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